The man in charge of the National Parks has his friggin' hat on backwards!

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

As if pleasing the defense lobby had had nothing to do with all this...

Mr. Trump is just negotiating with Lockeed Martin.

Bingo. At least some are paying attention.

Wasting money on military spending is easy enough, look at the USA. Spending it wisely is a whole lot more challenging.

That's also why lifting the sanctions for the invasion of Crimea is counterproductive, the next US foreign policy blunder in the making.

Cheers,
Bart

[degrub]

maybe it would...
The issue is imperious Russia is stretching its fingers to grasp strategic opportunities when they are available cheaply - perhaps Crimea is one - while the West is slumbering in somnolence. The united states of Europe does not exist despite Churchill's vision and hope.

China is on the same path to resturn to historic regional dominance and grandeur.

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

China is on the same path to return to historic regional dominance and grandeur.

Not limited to only regional ...

Cheers,
Bart

[Alan Klein]

maybe it would...
The issue is imperious Russia is stretching its fingers to grasp strategic opportunities when they are available cheaply - perhaps Crimea is one - while the West is slumbering in somnolence. The united states of Europe does not exist despite Churchill's vision and hope.

China is on the same path to resturn to historic regional dominance and grandeur.

Exactly.  European countries are all bark and no bite.  The Serbian War, in Europe's back yard, was allowed to fester and continue by other European countries until America stepped in.  If the EU means anything it should be about joint protection and handling business in their own spheres of influence.  They've grown lazy with wealth and dependence on America, a bad situation for both them and America.  WWII ended 70 years ago.  The Soviets are gone 30 years.   It's time for them to step up to the bat. 

[Jeremy Roussak]

You may be right, there are some parallels between one clown and liar with a loud mouth from late thirties and another lying clown with a loud mouth from the recent times.   Both sported ridiculous hair cuts, although one in black and the other in orange blond.

Be very careful!  I tried to make this analogy on another thread and caused it to be locked and also received a reprimand from our moderator.  I do agree with your statement!!!

And it will happen again. Nazi comparisons are the refuge of those bereft of logical argument, who mistakenly regard them somehow as trump cards (no, that's not a joke), defeating other argument; and they are highly offensive to many, including those who lost relatives in camps.

The next person to indulge, whether directly or indirectly, will be banned.

Jeremy

[RSL]

. . .they are highly offensive to many, including those who lost relatives in camps.

And to those of us who were sentient during that war, and lost relatives and friends in the war itself. People who equate any group with the National Socialists (NAZIs) haven't a clue what the NAZIs were like. Even reading history probably isn't enough to give you a serious appreciation for how far from the mark your comparisons are.

[Robert Roaldi]

And to those of us who were sentient during that war, and lost relatives and friends in the war itself. People who equate any group with the National Socialists (NAZIs) haven't a clue what the NAZIs were like. Even reading history probably isn't enough to give you a serious appreciation for how far from the mark your comparisons are.

By talking about what we should not talk about, risks talking about it.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Back to national parks... has anyone noticed that Trump donated his quarterly salary to... National Parks?

[BernardLanguillier]

This Nato spending topic is truly hilarious.

If the US are spending too much, why does Trump not reduce US spendings today?

When a couple is going bankrupt, does the man who is over-spending on toys ask his wife to spend more to balance things up? 

He has shown a great ability to take radical decisions on key topics, why not this one?

Cheers,
Bernard

[Robert Roaldi]

Back to national parks... has anyone noticed that Trump donated his quarterly salary to... National Parks?

Good. I hope that's real. Easy to make promises, but I'll be convinced when the "fake news" old media reports that the cheque has cleared. 

[BernardLanguillier]

And to those of us who were sentient during that war, and lost relatives and friends in the war itself. People who equate any group with the National Socialists (NAZIs) haven't a clue what the NAZIs were like. Even reading history probably isn't enough to give you a serious appreciation for how far from the mark your comparisons are.

Russ,

I agree with you 100% on this for many reasons.

Among them the fact that Trump has apparently no ideology besides money.

But we must understand that the comparison is drawn because there are always common characteristics amongst populist leaders playing with the basic fears and ignorance of voters. By telling US citizens “America first” he has defined a very strong “us vs them” chism, he is telling his voters “your problems come from Chinese or Europeans”.

The reality being that the lack of good public schools in poor neighborhoods/states isn’t because of BMW or American companies manufacturing goods in China, it is the result of public American money being used to fund the development of the F35.

Cheers,
Bernard

[Alan Klein]

This Nato spending topic is truly hilarious.

If the US are spending too much, why does Trump not reduce US spendings today?

When a couple is going bankrupt, does the man who is over-spending on toys ask his wife to spend more to balance things up? 

He has shown a great ability to take radical decisions on key topics, why not this one?

Cheers,
Bernard

Trump may spend less on NATO.  I've been predicting for over a year that if Europe doesn't increase their spending, he's going to pull a division of American troops out of Europe.  May move a battalion over to countries that are meeting their 2% like Estonia or Poland.  Actually Greece would be better as the troops would love doing a tour in the Greek Isles.  We'll see if that wakes up Europeans.  Of course, liberals here and there will claim that Putin is blackmailing him so loathe are they for supporting anything that helps America if it has Trump's stamp on it. 

[Alan Klein]

Good. I hope that's real. Easy to make promises, but I'll be convinced when the "fake news" old media reports that the cheque has cleared. 

NY Times article. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/03/us/politics/national-park-service-trump-salary.html

[Alan Klein]

...


The reality being that the lack of good public schools in poor neighborhoods/states isn’t because of BMW or American companies manufacturing goods in China, it is the result of public American money being used to fund the development of the F35.

Cheers,
Bernard

You're arguing for America to pull out of NATO, let Europe defend itself, and save on our military expenses which could better be used for social programs or to lower taxes.  Be careful.  Trump is listening.

[BernardLanguillier]

Trump may spend less on NATO.  I've been predicting for over a year that if Europe doesn't increase their spending, he's going to pull a division of American troops out of Europe.  May move a battalion over to countries that are meeting their 2% like Estonia or Poland.  Actually Greece would be better as the troops would love doing a tour in the Greek Isles.  We'll see if that wakes up Europeans.  Of course, liberals here and there will claim that Putin is blackmailing him so loathe are they for supporting anything that helps America if it has Trump's stamp on it.

Russ,

This would still be pocket change.

Why not go big on this? Why not withdraw all troops?

What about the 70,000 soldiers stationed in Okinawa?

Cheers,
Bernard

[Robert Roaldi]

NY Times article. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/03/us/politics/national-park-service-trump-salary.html

Thanks, that's good news.

[BernardLanguillier]

You're arguing for America to pull out of NATO, let Europe defend itself, and save on our military expenses which could better be used for social programs or to lower taxes.  Be careful.  Trump is listening.

Yes, exactly.

Why is this not happening?

Cheers,
Bernard

[Alan Klein]

Russ,

This would still be pocket change.

Why not go big on this? Why not withdraw all troops?

What about the 70,000 soldiers stationed in Okinawa?

Cheers,
Bernard

China's a bigger threat to the west than Russia.  However, I think Trump's heart is into a Fortress America.  Sort of like a Trump Tower of international relations. 

[degrub]

Yes, exactly.

Why is this not happening?

Cheers,
Bernard

P-U-T-I-N

[Alan Klein]

Yes, exactly.

Why is this not happening?

Cheers,
Bernard

Well what is it you want?  and Why?